Morteza Gharib, San Marino US

Morteza Gharib, San Marino, CA US

Patent application number

Description

Published

20080234624

OCULAR IMPLANT WITH ANCHOR AND THERAPEUTIC AGENT - An ocular disorder treatment implant includes an anchor and a therapeutic agent. The implant has a body with first and second end portions. The implant is configured to transport fluid from the anterior chamber of an eye to a physiological outflow pathway of the eye. The body has at least one inlet opening at the first end portion and at least one outlet opening at the second end portion such that the inlet and outlet openings are in fluid communication and define an axis therebetween. The anchor extends substantially perpendicularly to a part of the axis between the openings, and at least one outlet opening is configured to be positioned in the physiological outflow pathway. One implant has two outlet openings, and the anchor is disposed closer to one of the outlet openings.

09-25-2008

20080239316

Method and apparatus for quantitative 3-D imaging - Described is a method and apparatus for obtaining additional information from an object and a method for surface imaging and three-dimensional imaging. Single lens, single aperture, single sensor system and stereo optic systems are enhanced via selective filtering, use of defocusing information, use of an addressable pattern, image matching, and combinations thereof.

10-02-2008

20080259354

Single-lens, single-aperture, single-sensor 3-D imaging device - A device and method for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging using a defocusing technique is disclosed. The device comprises a lens having a substantially oblong aperture, a sensor operable for capturing light transmitted from an object through the lens and the substantially oblong aperture, and a processor communicatively connected with the sensor for processing the sensor information and producing a 3-D image of the object. The aperture may have an asymmetrical shape for distinguishing objects in front of versus in back of the focal plane. The aperture may also be rotatable, where the orientation of the observed pattern relative to the oblong aperture is varied with time thereby removing the ambiguity generated by image overlap. The disclosed device further comprises a light projection system configured to project a predetermined pattern onto a surface of the desired object thereby allowing for mapping of unmarked surfaces in three dimensions.

Single-lens, single-sensor 3-D imaging device with a central aperture for obtaining camera position - A device and method for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging using a defocusing technique is disclosed. The device comprises a lens, a central aperture located along an optical axis for projecting an entire image of a target object, at least one defocusing aperture located off of the optical axis, a sensor operable for capturing electromagnetic radiation transmitted from an object through the lens and the central aperture and the at least one defocusing aperture, and a processor communicatively connected with the sensor for processing the sensor information and producing a 3-D image of the object. Different optical filters can be used for the central aperture and the defocusing apertures respectively, whereby a background image produced by the central aperture can be easily distinguished from defocused images produced by the defocusing apertures.

11-13-2008

20080278572

Aperture system with spatially-biased aperture shapes and positions (SBPSP) for static and dynamic 3-D defocusing-based imaging - A device and method for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging using a defocusing technique is disclosed. The device comprises a lens, a plurality of spatially-biased apertures obstructing the lens, a sensor operable for capturing light transmitted from an object through the lens and the plurality of spatially-biased apertures, and a processor communicatively connected with the sensor for processing the sensor information and producing a 3-D image of the object. The spatially-biased apertures may differ in shape, size, and/or distance from the optical axis.

11-13-2008

20080278804

Method and apparatus for quantitative 3-D imaging - Described is a method and apparatus for obtaining additional information from an object and a method for surface imaging and three-dimensional imaging. Single lens, single aperture, single sensor system and stereo optic systems may be modified in order to successfully generate surface maps of objects or three-dimensional representations of target objects. A variety of the aspects of the present invention provide examples of the use of an addressable pattern in order to overcome mismatching common to standard defocusing techniques.

11-13-2008

20080285034

Single-lens 3-D imaging device using a polarization-coded aperture maks combined with a polarization-sensitive sensor - A device and method for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging using a defocusing technique is disclosed. The device comprises a lens, at least one polarization-coded aperture obstructing the lens, a polarization-sensitive sensor operable for capturing electromagnetic radiation transmitted from an object through the lens and the at least one polarization-coded aperture, and a processor communicatively connected with the sensor for processing the sensor information and producing a 3-D image of the object.

11-20-2008

20090076436

OCULAR IMPLANTS WITH DEPLOYABLE STRUCTURE - An implant has a tubular member with an inlet configured to receive fluid from an anterior chamber of an eye, an outlet configured to deliver fluid from the inlet to a physiological outflow pathway of the eye, and a lumen therebetween configured for substantially free flow of the fluid and which generally defines a flow axis. At the outlet of the tubular member is a distal deployable portion that has a compacted position and an expanded position. The deployable portion is configured to expand in the physiological outflow pathway of the eye and moves transversely when transitioning between the compacted and expanded positions about a pivot axis which is substantially perpendicular to the flow axis.

03-19-2009

20090130370

Fabrication of anchored carbon nanotube array devices for integrated light collection and energy conversion - A method of fabricating optical energy collection and conversion devices using carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and a method of anchoring CNT's into thin polymeric layers is disclosed. The basic method comprises an initial act of surrounding a plurality of substantially aligned nanostructures within at least one fluid layer of substantially uniform thickness such that a first end of the plurality of nanostructures protrudes from the fluid layer. Next, the fluid layer is altered to form an anchoring layer, thereby fastening the nanostructures within the primary anchoring layer with the first ends of the nanostructures protruding from a first surface of the primary anchoring layer. Finally, a portion of the anchoring layer is selectively removed such that a second end of the nanostructures is exposed and protrudes from the anchoring layer. The resulting product is an optically absorbent composite material having aligned nanostructures protruding from both sides of an anchoring layer.

05-21-2009

20090138081

OCULAR IMPLANT WITH ANCHOR AND METHODS THEREOF - Implants and methods for treating ocular disorders are disclosed. One implant has an inlet portion configured to extend through a portion of a tissue of an eye and an outlet portion configured to extend into and along a physiologic outflow pathway of the eye. The implant provides a flow path between an anterior chamber of the eye and the physiologic outflow pathway. One implant includes a body having adjacent regions of differing cross-sectional dimensions configured to anchor the implant and/or stabilize at least a portion of the flow path through the implant. One method involves inserting a fiber optic in an eye, locating a distal end of the fiber optic at a physiologic outflow pathway through which aqueous humor drains from an anterior chamber of the eye, and delivering a material comprising a therapeutic agent along the fiber optic and into the physiologic outflow pathway.

05-28-2009

20090295908

Method and device for high-resolution three-dimensional imaging which obtains camera pose using defocusing - A method and device for high-resolution three-dimensional (3-D) imaging which obtains camera pose using defocusing is disclosed. The device comprises a lens obstructed by a mask having two sets of apertures. The first set of apertures produces a plurality of defocused images of the object, which are used to obtain camera pose. The second set of optical filters produces a plurality of defocused images of a projected pattern of markers on the object. The images produced by the second set of apertures are differentiable from the images used to determine pose, and are used to construct a detailed 3-D image of the object. Using the known change in camera pose between captured images, the 3-D images produced can be overlaid to produce a high-resolution 3-D image of the object.

12-03-2009

20100007660

Pattern inversion for improved resolution in 3D imaging - A system and method for improving resolution of a 3-D image by pattern inversion is disclosed. An image of a marker pattern transmitted from the surface of a 3-D object is captured with a sensor and analyzed using a 3-D image analysis method. The respective light and dark areas in the image are then inverted. The inverted image is then analyzed using a 3-D image analysis method, whereby the inversion allows for analysis of a greater portion of the image, resulting in a higher resolution 3-D image than without inversion.

01-14-2010

20100056979

IMPLANTABLE OCULAR PUMP TO REDUCE INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE - A trabecular pump is implantable in the eye to reduce intraocular pressure. The pump drains aqueous humor from the anterior chamber into outflow pathways, such as Schlemm's canal. A feedback system includes an intraocular pump and a pressure sensor in communication with the pump, for regulating intraocular pressure.

03-04-2010

20100094138

Imaging catheter using laser profile for plaque depth measurement - A device, system, and method for measuring the depth of a material layer such as a blood vessel plaque layer is disclosed. A fiber optic bundle housed in a balloon catheter projects a laser dot toward a conical mirror, which reflects the dot perpendicularly onto the surface of the plaque. The laser dot is reflected back from the plaque layer with a substantially Gaussian intensity profile. The conical mirror directs the reflected image back to the fiber optic bundle, which delivers the image to a sensor. The depth of the plaque layer can be determined by comparing the diameter of the image intensity profile to a pre-obtained normalized data set.

04-15-2010

20100106073

METHOD OF MONITORING INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE AND TREATING AN OCULAR DISORDER - The invention discloses a trabecular stent and methods for treating glaucoma. The stent may incorporate an intraocular pressure sensor comprising a compressible element that is implanted inside an anterior chamber of an eye, wherein at least one external dimension of the element correlates with intraocular pressure. In some embodiments, the sensor may be coupled to the stent. Also disclosed are methods of delivery of the stent and the sensor to the eye.

04-29-2010

20100143861

APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING A TOOTH - Apparatus and methods for monitoring a tooth may include sensing acoustic energy propagating from regions (such as a root canal system) in and/or near a tooth. The apparatus and methods may be used with root canal cleaning treatments to determine the efficacy of the treatment and/or to reduce risk of post-treatment complications. An acoustic source (e.g., an acoustic transducer and/or a high-speed liquid jet) may be used to transmit energy into a tooth and/or regions near a tooth. An acoustic receiver may be used to detect acoustic signatures of acoustic events (e.g., acoustic echoes and/or acoustic cavitation) occurring in the tooth. The acoustic signatures may be used, for example, to determine the progress of a root canal cleaning treatment and/or the presence or movement of material toward a periapical region of the tooth. Apparatus and methods for monitoring a tooth may include detecting impact of a first jet on a tooth and actuating a second jet in response to detection of the impact.

06-10-2010

20100196446

Drug delivery and substance transfer facilitated by nano-enhanced device having aligned carbon nanotubes protruding from device surface - The present invention relates to a nano-enhanced device for substance transfer between the device and a tissue. The device comprises a substrate with substantially aligned carbon nanotubes anchored within the substrate, and with at least one end of the carbon nanotubes protruding from the substrate. The protruding nanotube ends may be coated with a drug for delivery of the drug into body tissue. The present invention may be incorporated into an angioplasty catheter balloon or into a patch that is worn on the skin. The carbon nanotubes can be grouped in clusters to effectively form nano-needles which can transfer fluid to or from the subdermal tissue. The nano-needles can be used in conjunction with a sensor to ascertain body fluid information such as pH, glucose level, etc.

08-05-2010

20100241213

Impedance Pump Used in Bypass Grafts - A pump installed inside a graft in a body such as the human body to force fluid such as blood through that graft. The pump can be one which operates totally from the outside of the graft, forcing fluid through the graft without extending inside the graft. The pump can be an impedance pump, that operates based on the fluidic mismatches between the graft, and other fluid carrying vessels within the human body.

09-23-2010

20100261228

MULTIPLEXED SITES FOR POLYMER SYNTHESIS - Disclosed herein are methods, devices, and other components for synthesizing polymers. In some embodiments, numerous sites can be multiplexed together to allow for effective nucleic acid synthesis.

10-14-2010

20110033933

METHOD APPLYING HEMODYNAMIC FORCING AND KLF2 TO INITIATE THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CARDIAC VALVES - A method for forming a cardiovascular structure in culture is provided. The method includes applying mechanical force to a cell population in culture such that a cardiovascular structure is formed. In some embodiments, the mechanical force is produced in culture medium by a pulsatile liquid flow with a retrograde component. The cell population can include stem cells or differentiated cells, or combinations of both. In particular embodiments, a cardiovascular valve is formed. Scaffolds for the support and growth of the cell population, and bioreactors including the scaffolds, are also provided.

02-10-2011

20110058740

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FAST THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGING USING DEFOCUSING AND FEATURE RECOGNITION - Described is a method and system for fast three-dimensional imaging using defocusing and feature recognition is disclosed. The method comprises acts of capturing a plurality of defocused images of an object on a sensor, identifying segments of interest in each of the plurality of images using a feature recognition algorithm, and matching the segments with three-dimensional coordinates according to the positions of the images of the segments on the sensor to produce a three-dimensional position of each segment of interest. The disclosed imaging method is “aware” in that it uses a priori knowledge of a small number of object features to reduce computation time as compared with “dumb” methods known in the art which exhaustively calculate positions of a large number of marker points.

03-10-2011

20110117517

LIQUID JET APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR DENTAL TREATMENTS - Systems and methods for using a liquid jet apparatus for dental treatments are disclosed. In one implementation, the liquid jet apparatus may include a handpiece configured to deliver a high velocity liquid jet to a desired location in the mouth of a patient. The handpiece may include a positioning member having a channel through or along which the jet can propagate. The positioning member may have a distal end portion configured to be at least partially disposed in a pulp cavity, canal space, or opening in the tooth under treatment. During operation, the jet may impact an impingement surface of the distal end portion of the positioning member and be deflected as a spray through one or more openings in the distal end portion. The liquid jet apparatus may be used for root canal treatments.

05-19-2011

20110125136

INTRAVASCULAR DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC SAMPLING DEVICE - A device and methods for continuous precision blood sampling from a patient with a micro impedance pump as the driver in a microfluidic system. Depending on the needs of medical technologies, the micro impedance pump in the intravascular diagnostic and therapeutic sampling system serves in a forward pumping function for blood sampling, in a backward infusing for therapeutic treatment, and in a valving function for controlling fluid flow.

05-26-2011

20110170100

Single-Lens 3-D Imaging Device Using Polarization Coded Aperture Masks Combined with Polarization Sensitive Sensor - A device and method for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging using a defocusing technique is disclosed. The device comprises a lens, at least one polarization-coded aperture obstructing the lens, a polarization-sensitive sensor operable for capturing electromagnetic radiation transmitted from an object through the lens and the at least one polarization-coded aperture, and a processor communicatively connected with the sensor for processing the sensor information and producing a 3-D image of the object.

07-14-2011

20110193942

Single-Lens, Single-Aperture, Single-Sensor 3-D Imaging Device - A device and method for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging using a defocusing technique is disclosed. The device comprises a lens having a substantially oblong aperture, a sensor operable for capturing light transmitted from an object through the lens and the substantially oblong aperture, and a processor communicatively connected with the sensor for processing the sensor information and producing a 3-D image of the object. The aperture may have an asymmetrical shape for distinguishing objects in front of versus in back of the focal plane. The aperture may also be rotatable, where the orientation of the observed pattern relative to the oblong aperture is varied with time thereby removing the ambiguity generated by image overlap. The disclosed device further comprises a light projection system configured to project a predetermined pattern onto a surface of the desired object thereby allowing for mapping of unmarked surfaces in three dimensions.

08-11-2011

20110250376

SIMPLE METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUPERHYDROPHOBIC CARBON NANOTUBE ARRAY - The present invention provides efficient methods for producing a superhydrophobic carbon nanotube (CNT) array. The methods comprise providing a vertically aligned CNT array and performing vacuum pyrolysis on the CNT array to produce a superhydrophobic CNT array. These methods have several advantages over the prior art, such as operational simplicity and efficiency. The invention also relates to superhydrophobic CNT arrays.

10-13-2011

20120004495

IMPLANTABLE HEART ASSIST SYSTEM AND METHOD OF APPLYING SAME - An extracardiac pumping for supplementing the circulation of blood, including the cardiac output, in a patient without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, and methods of using same. One embodiment provides a vascular graft that has a first end that is sized and configured to couple to a non-primary blood vessel and a second end that is fluidly coupled to a pump to conduct blood between the pump and the non-primary blood vessel. An outflow conduit is also provided that has a first end sized and configured to be positioned within the same or different blood vessel, whether primary or non-primary, through the vascular graft. The outflow conduit is fluidly coupled to the pump to conduct blood between the pump and the patient. The vascular graft may be connected to the blood vessel subcutaneously to permit application of the extracardiac pumping system in a minimally-invasive procedure.

01-05-2012

20120076400

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FAST THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGING USING DEFOCUSING AND FEATURE RECOGNITION - Described is a method and system for fast three-dimensional imaging using defocusing and feature recognition is disclosed. The method comprises acts of capturing a plurality of defocused images of an object on a sensor, identifying segments of interest in each of the plurality of images using a feature recognition algorithm, and matching the segments with three-dimensional coordinates according to the positions of the images of the segments on the sensor to produce a three-dimensional position of each segment of interest. The disclosed imaging method is “aware” in that it uses a priori knowledge of a small number of object features to reduce computation time as compared with “dumb” methods known in the art which exhaustively calculate positions of a large number of marker points.

03-29-2012

20120162392

Single-Lens 3-D Imaging Device Using Polarization Coded Aperture Masks Combined With Polarization Sensitive Sensor - A device and method for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging using a defocusing technique is disclosed. The device comprises a lens, at least one polarization-coded aperture obstructing the lens, a polarization-sensitive sensor operable for capturing electromagnetic radiation transmitted from an object through the lens and the at least one polarization-coded aperture, and a processor communicatively connected with the sensor for processing the sensor information and producing a 3-D image of the object.

06-28-2012

20120259195

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MONITORING INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE AND TREATING AN OCULAR DISORDER - The invention discloses a trabecular stent and methods for treating glaucoma. The stent may incorporate an intraocular pressure sensor comprising a compressible element that is implanted inside an anterior chamber of an eye, wherein at least one external dimension of the element correlates with intraocular pressure. In some embodiments, the sensor may be coupled to the stent. Also disclosed are methods of delivery of the stent and the sensor to the eye.

10-11-2012

20130018296

OCULAR IMPLANT WITH THERAPEUTIC AGENT AND METHODS THEREOF - An ocular disorder treatment implant includes an anchor and a therapeutic agent. The implant has a body with first and second end portions. The implant is configured to transport fluid from the anterior chamber of an eye to a physiological outflow pathway of the eye. The body has at least one inlet opening at the first end portion and at least one outlet opening at the second end portion such that the inlet and outlet openings are in fluid communication and define an axis therebetween. The anchor extends substantially perpendicularly to a part of the axis between the openings, and at least one outlet opening is configured to be positioned in the physiological outflow pathway. One implant has two outlet openings, and the anchor is disposed closer to one of the outlet openings.

01-17-2013

20130071010

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FAST THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGING USING DEFOCUSING AND FEATURE RECOGNITION - Described is a method and system for fast three-dimensional imaging using defocusing and feature recognition is disclosed. The method comprises acts of capturing a plurality of defocused images of an object on a sensor, identifying segments of interest in each of the plurality of images using a feature recognition algorithm, and matching the segments with three-dimensional coordinates according to the positions of the images of the segments on the sensor to produce a three-dimensional position of each segment of interest. The disclosed imaging method is “aware” in that it uses a priori knowledge of a small number of object features to reduce computation time as compared with “dumb” methods known in the art which exhaustively calculate positions of a large number of marker points.

03-21-2013

20130300834

SINGLE-LENS 3-D IMAGING DEVICE USING POLOARIZATION CODED APERTURE MASKS COMBINED WITH POLARIZATION SENSITIVE SENSOR - A device and method for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging using a defocusing technique is disclosed. The device comprises a lens, at least one polarization-coded aperture obstructing the lens, a polarization-sensitive sensor operable for capturing electromagnetic radiation transmitted from an object through the lens and the at least one polarization-coded aperture, and a processor communicatively connected with the sensor for processing the sensor information and producing a 3-D image of the object.

11-14-2013

20150044630

ROOT CANAL FILLING MATERIALS AND METHODS - In various embodiments of a method for filling root canal spaces, the root canal spaces are cleaned and irrigated, for example, by any suitable endodontic procedure, and the irrigating liquid is not removed from the canal spaces prior to filling. In some embodiments, a hydrophobic filler material is introduced into the root canal spaces while they are filled with liquid. As the canal spaces are filled, the hydrophobic filler material displaces the liquid and drives it out of the canal spaces, towards the crown of the tooth, where it can be removed. The hydrophobic filler material may comprise magnetically responsive particles having a hydrophobic surface coating that are compacted into the root canal spaces by application of a magnetic force field. In other embodiments, hydrophilic filler material in a flowable phase is introduced into the canal spaces where it partly displaces and partly absorbs the irrigating liquid before solidifying.